Claw or Climb Like A Woman, the first Indian women’s climbing event, took place from December 26th to 30thand wrapped up 2018 with a bang in Hampi, India. This was an event primarily to introduce Indian women into climbing by learning and climbing together in a positive and encouraging environment. We had 25 to 30 women participants, most of whom were complete beginners and had never climbed before.
photo credit: Neil Dsouza 
photo credit: Kopal Goyal 
photo credit: Nick Russel
I had been thinking of how there are few well run events in the Indian climbing community, specifically especially for women. Entering the climbing world can be daunting for a beginner, especially if you don’t already have friends in the community. I felt that a women’s only event would be refreshing and allow female climbers to try something new in a positive and encouraging setting. a feeling of security to share anything with each other as we all face similar fears on rocks, share similar weaknesses or strengths and help each other while climbing.
“Many of the girls expressed how they enjoyed how climbing allowed them to break cultural norms, like how women should dress or how women’s skin has to be free of scratches, bruises and even a suntan; something often expected of women in India. “
I have wanted to do this for two years now, but I procrastinated in taking action, as I hadn’t really met too many other Indian women climbers until earlier this year. In January of 2018, I climbed a project in Badami that I received the Live Your Dream Grant for, which opened up doors to meet a few strong Indian women climbers. It turned out we all agreed this would be good for women’s climbing. It began taking shape when I called up my climbing friends Lekha Rathinam, Prerna dangi and Vrinda Bhageria. They were totally in to organize a meet up in Hampi. Vrinda was busy as she was opening one of the best climbing gyms in India called The Boulder Box so she agreed to help as much as she could. Soon after, Mel Batson from NY but who lives in India half the year joined in the organizing team as well. Zhen Paintal and Kopal Goyal, from Inspire crew, an online platform that showcases Indian women in extreme sports, joined us and became our event partner as well. The experienced climbers instructed the newcomers on climbing basics. Participants were shown a number of climbing techniques and safety and by the end of the event had climbed at least one highball boulder. When we weren’t climbing we lead other fun activities like yoga, slacklining, and a little bit of swimming and exercise workshops. Everyone was excited to be outdoors and learning and we had a lot of fun making new friends and bonding during the event. We always started on the same warm up boulders together and moved in smaller groups to other boulders. Many of the girls expressed how they enjoyed how climbing allowed them to break cultural norms, like how women should dress or how women’s skin has to be free of scratches, bruises and even a suntan; something often expected of women in India. Our hope is to do more events where experienced women climbers will mentor beginners and bridge the gap in ratio of men climbing versus women. The main goal though is to create a community for women within the larger climbing community, and have fun outdoors!
Author: Gowri Varanashi
Meet the organizers!
photo: Julia Cassou
Prerna Dangi
Location or city of origin: Delhi
Favorite crag snack: does coffee count?
Climbing experience : I began with the monkey business 8 years ago at my college wall. I love to climb the mighty Himalayas, water ice, trad, sport and boulder, in order of preference!
“Climbing is one of the most exciting and empowering pursuits and to be able to share it with a bunch of women of all abilities was a super unique experience! The psyche was high and the vibe was great and each day someone outdid themselves! We had no idea we’d have so much fun because it’s literally never happened before! The best part was that by end of it, everyone was spotting like a pro and had one boulder they were obsessed about!”
Gowri Varanashi
Location or city of origin: Bangalore, India/ NY state, USA
Favorite Crag snack: Nuts and dark chocolate!
Climbing Experience: I was introduced to climbing in the US and have been doing it for 7 years now. I am a sport climber and boulderer but wish to improve my trad climbing skills as well. Hardest grade I have climbed is a V6 in bouldering and 5.12c sport route. I have climbed in a few places in India and also various places in the US.
“The positivity and enthusiasm every participant came with was the biggest highlight for me. None of them ever said no to trying a problem or hearing advice and suggestions on what they could improve. They all helped each other, bonded and had a great time, which made all the organizing, coordinating and work that went into this completely worth it. “
Melissa Batson
Location or city of origin: NY, USA
Favorite crag snack: Imli pops 😛 and some sort of GORP-like mixture (dried fruits and nuts)
Climbing experience: I just started climbing regularly about three years back. Until recently I have mostly been bouldering; but I am looking forward to learning more about lead and trad climbing this year!
“The STOKE level was so high throughout the whole event! My absolute favorite aspect of the meet-up was the energy of the participants. They came ready to face any obstacle and, in turn, ready to help others face the same. No matter what we were doing – getting up at the crack of dawn; spotting, projecting, and executing a project (including the down-climb!); relaxing with downtime activities – everyone was positive, open minded, and supportive and that really gave a warm soul to the meet-up which no one could have planned.”
Kopal Goyal
Location or city of origin: Bihar, India
Climbing experience: I started climbing 3 years back right after attending 23rd National Sports Climbing Championship held in Delhi as an audience. I have been participated in two nationals after that. I mostly climb sports route, sometimes boulder around.
Favorite crag snack: Potato chips
“It was so inspiring to see so many women coming out from their normal routine and try something which they wanted to. I was there for filming the event and I think I got the most interesting task. It was so empowering to see them stepping their foot over the rocks for the very first time. I saw their happiness while interviewing them about how they felt while. Everyone was so thrilled and, they were supporting each other the best way they could.“
Zhen Paintal
Location or city of origin: Born in Delhi, lived more than 20 years in Pune, Currently in Goa
Climbing experience : I’ve barely tried climbing 2 or 3 times recently in the past 6 months, I got introduced to alternative sports through skateboarding, took to slacklining and surfing a year later and then climbing recently. Only tried wall climbing (gym)
“Although I couldn’t attend for unforeseen reasons, I think the best part was and will be pulling this off, actually getting women to come together for nothing else but their self-interests & curiosity towards a new outdoor sport. “
Lekha Rathinam
Location or city of origin: Bangalore, India
Favorite crag snack: Chocolate doughnut.
Climbing experience: A little close to two years, which is when I was introduced to climbing and have since then been consistently climbing. I’ve climbed in Fontainebleau, Saxon Switzerland, Hampi, Badami and various other parts of India. And the hardest grade I have climbed is a V6.
“This was the first time in India I witnessed so many women who came out to climb in this 5 day event. The support and motivation among the crowd was just overwhelming. The trust we built with each other was so great that even the beginners went up on highballs on the second and third day of the event without any hesitation for they were confident. The post-climbing chill out sessions in the reservoir was definitely another memorable moments of the festival.”
“They came ready to face any obstacle and, in turn, ready to help others face the same ” – Melissa Batson
Special thanks to all of the organizers for sharing their story and to all the women who made this event possible. Lastly, thanks to the sponsors and partners that helped support CLAW!
